Garden Club


The DCA Garden Club program will consist of lectures and hands-on workshops that will increase our horticultural knowledge, encourage our exploration into floral design and motivate us to be persistent advocates for environmental conservation.
All Garden Club members must be members of the DCA .
Annual dues are $25.00
The guest fee is $10 for speakers, $20 for speakers with luncheon

Responsibility of Membership

  • Be part of the hospitality team for at least one meeting during the year.
  • Participate in the Annual Plant Sale in May by donating time and donating six plants or $20.00
  • Donate time toward the maintenance of the grounds and formal garden.

Garden Club Program 2009-2010


Field Trip to Garden of Ideas and Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum
Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

9:00 am Meet in the DCA Parking Lot

We will meet at 9:00 am sharp and carpool to two wonderful locations in Ridgefield, CT. We start our tour at Garden of Ideas. The property is approximately twelve acres of marsh, woodland, meadow and vegetable garden with a great collection of garden sculpture, and lots of tropical plants. The wonderful story behind the history of the garden can be viewed at gardenofideas.com. Next we find ourselves at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum to experience the sculpture of Edward Tufte- described by Business Week as "the Gallileo of graphics". Over the course of its forty year history, the Aldrich has become renowned as a national leader for its presentation of outstanding new art, the cultivation of emerging artists, and its innovation in museum education. Lun to be enjoyed at the museum's education center.

$15 fee for Garden Club Members
$20 fee for DCA non-Garden Club members
$25 fee for non DCA members.

Please call the DCA 655-9050 by Wednesday, Sept. 9th.

Getting Dirty at the DCA
Tuesday, October 13, 2009

9:30 am
There will be something for everyone in this down and dirty work party. Learn from the pros as we put the gardens of the DCA to "bed" for the winter. We'll divide peonies, phlox and astilbe, to name a few, as well as prune boxwood, wisteria and others. Come learn what works in the winter planter boxes and how to over winter some frost tender perennials. Wear your boots, bring your clippers and join us in the garden. Light lunch will be served. Rain date TBD.
$5 fee for DCA non-garden club members, $10 for non-DCA members

Totally Topiary Workshop
Tuesday, November 10, 2009

9:30 am - Coffee and 10:00 am Program

Kate Jamison of Gilberties Herbs in Westport will demonstrate how to shape, train and grow topiary. Choose from sun or shade loving plants to create your own masterpiece.
$10 fee (per topiary) for garden club members. $15 fee (per topiary) for DCA non-garden club members. $20 (per topiary) for non-DCA members.
Reservations Required. Please call the DCA by Wednesday November 4 with selection of sun/shade.

Holiday Greens Workshop
Holiday Wreaths
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
9:30 am workshop

Flora Smeaton, current Greenhouse president, will lead us in a wreath creating workshop. In the end you will have a work of art that can be hung or used as a centerpiece for a festive winter table. Bring your pruners, glove s and imagination, we'll provide the rest. Reservations Required. Please call the DCA by Wednesday December 2nd so the appropriate supplies can be purchased. $10 fee for garden club members, $15 fee for DCA non-garden-club members and $20 for non DCA members.

Tree Peonies
Joint meeting with the Garden Club of Darien
Tuesday, January 12, 2010

9:30 am - Coffee and 10:00 am Program

A representative from Cricket Hill Garden - "a plant nursery established in 1989 devoted to introducing American gardeners to the beauty of Chinese tree and herbaceous peonies" - will show a wonderful slide presentation on Tree Peonies. Guests welcome.

Indoor and Outdoor Early Spring Container Gardens
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Coffee 9:30 am - Program 10:00am

Karen Hughan of Good Gardens IIc will give a slide presentation and demonstrate the art of container gardening with a few creations for indoor and outdoor use. Some of you may remember Karen's garden from the tour this past summer. Her understated style is refreshing and inspiring. You will leave this demonstration believing spring is just around the corner! Enter for a chance to win one of her completed containers.
$5 fee for DCA non-garden club members, $10 for non DCA members.

ABC's of Gardening Mini Session
Tuesday, March 9, 2010

9:30 am - Coffee and 10:00 am Program

Spring is almost here. It's time to put down the garden books and get outside. Not sure where to start? Need a little motivation? Looking for answers? This is for you. The DCA's very own Greenhouse Group will take us through sight selection, soil preparation, plant selection and pest control in just over an hour. $5 fee for DCA non-garden-club members, $10 for non DCA members.

Spring at the DCA
Tuesday, April 13, 2010

9:30am

We put the garden to "bed" in October, now it's time to wake it up. We'll divide anemones and epimedium as well as prune roses, hydrangeas and others. There are always extras to share. Spring is such an exciting time in the garden. Wear your boots, bring your clippers and prepare to get dirty. Light lunch will be served. Rain date TBD. $5 fee for DCA non-garden club members, $10 fee for non DCA members.

Annual Plant Sale
Friday, May 7, 2010

8 :30 am - 12:30 pm

The Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale on Friday May 7th, just in time for spring planting. We will offer wonderful plants grown in the DCA’s own greenhouse by its greenhouse members, as well as perennials donated from the gardens of our garden club members. All members of the garden club are expected to donate time, as well as 6 perennials or $20 to underwrite the cost of annuals that are purchased from a local grower. Experienced gardeners and designers will be on hand to offer advice and suggestions.

Sixth Annual Garden Tour
Tuesday, June 8, 2010

9:30 am
Reservations Requested

Members of the Garden Club and a guest are invited for the sixth annual garden tour. We will gather for coffee at the DCA and to divide into carpools to visit the gardens.


Garden Club Board 2009-2010

Co-Chair -Robin Ackerman
Co- Chair - Marianne Wadleigh
Secretary - Sheila Sherwood
Treasurer -Lori Moody
Membership - Nicole Hornick
Hospitality -Flora Smeaton
Gardens and Grounds- Allyson Getsinger, Pam Heberton and Heather

Greenhouse Group



Make Your Calendars!
Garden Club Annual Plant Sale
Friday
May 8, 2009

Darien Community Association, Inc.
274 Middlesex Road
Darien, CT 06820
Telephone: 203-655-9050
Rental Office: 203-655-1054
Fax: 203-655-4009
e-mail :DCA1923@optonline.net